Day 2 of Week 3 The Patriarchs

September 18, 2008
Day Two of Week Three
Laughing Out Loud
 
Today's Treasure: Genesis 21: 6
"Sarah said, 'God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me."
 
Beth wants us to imagine Sarah's life of waiting in between the word of promise from God and the ecstasy of it being fulfilled. I honestly feel like I am in that place right now! I know that the Word of God pro mises healing to my body if I have faith that He will heal me completely and believe His Word. I cannot wait for the ecstasy of that first scan that says, "Tiffany Pate, you are cancer free." I cannot wait to tell my doctor he is going to have to give Brian and me a moment to praise our God for the healing He has brought over my body! I cannot wait to be the miracle my doctor has been longing to see firsthand!  
Sarah also knew the feeling of waiting, and I am sure she wondered, time and time again, if the day would ever come!  
Read Genesis 21: 1 – 7 and record the promise God fulfilled:
Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah
 
Genesis 21: 1
"The LORD visited with Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken" 
The word gracious is translated from the Hebrew word padaq meaning: "to number, count; to take into account; to look after."
Circle both phrases in the above verse that begin with the word "as". What can you conclude from these two phrases?
If God says it….it will be done!!!
 
Do you know a senior-adult couple who still seem to be in love? Describe something about them that makes you smile!
Well, this couple is not longer alive; however their story is just amazing to me. When I was a young girl, we lived on a quiet street with several senior couples. This one, in particular, just had an amazing marriage. The wife didn't complete a conversation without telling you something wonderful about her husband. She kept a journal from the day they were=2 0married about each day of their life together. She wanted to remember the good times that they shared, and their good times seemed to be every single day. She lost her husband, suddenly, one year. It just about devastated her. She missed him so much, but she continued eleven years without him. My dad went by to check on her one afternoon and she said, "You know, Buddy (my dad), my anniversary is in two weeks, and I miss Julian so much! I think I am ready to go home to be with him again." Do you know that within a few days she developed an infection and was admitted into the hospital? She died on their anniversary! When I think back on that story, I am just always reminded of true love. I pray that Brian knows how deeply I love him and appreciate him standing by my side as committed as he has been to helping me fight this battle!
 
Go with me here, Sister, because the woman in me finds this part fascinating. Just think: Sarah didn't have a monthly cycle to give her early signs that she was pregnant. How do we know? What does Genesis 18: 11 explicitly tell you?
Sarah was past the age of childbearing
How do you think Sarah finally figured out that God had fulfilled His promise and she was expecting Isaac? Share your thoughts
I am sure the early signs of being tired may have fueled her thoughts; however, she was 99 years old! I mean, she could have chalked her fatigue up to being old! She could have been nauseated (like me). I puked my guts up all day, every single day for seventeen weeks. I pray God did not put that one on her at her age! I hope that she knew it in the moment that she first felt Isaac move around in her womb! How glorious those first rumbles were to me!!!
Read Luke 1: 5 – 7 and describe this couple:
Zechariah was a priest and Elizabeth was his wife. She was barren, and they were both advanced in years.
What happened in Luke 1: 11 – 13?
An Angel came to Zechariah and told him his wife would give him a son
Read Luke 1: 24 – 25. What did Elizabeth do according to verse 24? How long?
She remained in seclusion for 5 months
Why do you think she did such a thing?
I am sure it was to protect her pregnancy
 
I am tender to those of you who may find today's lesson bittersweet, even pa inful. Perhaps your marriage has long outlasted a sense of passion or your womb remains empty – though you have prayed for a child. Was there any reason this was a difficult lesson for you?
My answer: Trying to remain in the promise that I will be here for many years to raise my children that I love so very much!!!
 
Beth wants us to imagine being invited to Sarah's shower and celebration of Isaac's arrival. What gift would you choose?
I would choose a beautiful bell for her to tie around him because she probably needs a creative way to keep up with him at her age!!! Just kidding!!!
 
Love to you all and have a blessed day!!!